James B & Melita a Mcdonough
The James B & Melita A McDonough Foundation is a private foundation established in 2004 and based in Dubuque, Iowa. The foundation supports charitable, educational, and health-related activities with a particular emphasis on serving children and families in Eastern Iowa.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.7M
+4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$446K
+8.5% YoY
Grant Count
88
+17.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-7.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James B & Melita a Mcdonough reported a distributable amount of $416K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to promote charitable, educational, and health-related activities and opportunities for children and families in Dubuque and the greater Eastern Iowa area. The foundation offers support to local non-profit organizations that provide:
- Educational opportunities
- Human and social services
- Healthcare for children and their families
Primary funding interests include education, human services, basic human needs, capital projects, religious endeavors, cultural and arts initiatives, and food and housing assistance for those in need.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 88 grants totaling approximately $446,038 in 2024. Notable recent grants include:
Grant Range
$1,000–$50,000
Average Grant
amount varies by program
Review Cycle
**Recent Grant Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides grants exclusively to 501(c)(3) or 170(c) organizations located in seven Iowa counties:
- Dubuque
- Delaware
- Clayton
- Jones
- Jackson
- Fayette
- Buchanan
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $8,655,654
- Total giving: $446,038–$458,098
- Total revenue: $699,261
- Total expenses: $521,476
- Giving rate: 5.4%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,655,654 | $8,277,416 | $7,749,169 |
| Revenue | $699,261 | $270,811 | $48,412 |
| Expenses | $521,476 | $488,972 | $501,304 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $458,098 | $426,340 | $448,912 |
| Net Investment Income | $647,558 | $221,439 | $114,546 |
| Distributable Amount | $416,191 | $389,345 | $405,030 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Holy Family ($50,000), Community Foundation of Greater Dub ($15,000), Dubuque Community Ymcaywca ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANAMAOSA MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION ANAMOSA, IA | ANAMOSA LUNCHES FOR YOUTH | $2,750 |
| BELL TOWER PRODUCTIONS DUBUQUE, IA | NEW STAGE LIGHTING | $3,000 |
| BROWN'S HOMETOWN VICTORY FOUNDATION DYERSVILLE, IA | READING 4 A REASON PROGRAM | $1,000 |
| CALVARY LUTHERAN ELCA SABULA, IA | ELCA MOBILE PANTRY DISTRIBUTION | $1,000 |
| CAMP ALBRECHT ACRES OF THE MIDWEST SHERRILL, IA | STAFF RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES | $5,000 |
| CAMP CORAGEOUS MONTICELLO, IA | PICTURED ROCKS NATURE TRAIL. | $10,000 |
| CARNEGIE STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUND DUBUQUE, IA | DELUXE GRAB-N-GO | $2,000 |
| CENTRALLY ROOTED DUBUQUE, IA | EXPANDING IMPACT | $5,000 |
| CITY OF EPWORTH EPWORTH, IA | PLAYGROUND RENOVATION | $2,500 |
| CITY OF DELAWARE DUBUQUE, IA | ENHANCING PLAYGROUND SAFETY WITH MULCH FALL PROTECTION | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Ann McDonough – President
- Brian J Kane – Vice President
- Glen McDonough – Treasurer
- Jim Liddle – Director
- Heather Cruse – Director
The foundation operates with limited staffing and relies on volunteer board leadership.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANN MCDONOUGH | President | — | — |
| BRIAN J KANE | Vice President | — | — |
| GLEN MCDONOUGH | Treasurer | — | — |
| JIM LIDDLE | Director | — | — |
| HEATHER CRUSE | Director | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James B & Melita a Mcdonough fund?
The foundation's mission is to promote charitable, educational, and health-related activities and opportunities for children and families in Dubuque and the greater Eastern Iowa area. The foundation offers support to local non-profit organizations that provide: • Educational opportunities • Human and social services • Healthcare for children and their families Primary funding interests include education, human services, basic human needs, capital projects, religious endeavors, cultural and arts…
How do I apply for a grant from James B & Melita a Mcdonough?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $1,000–$50,000 • Median grant amount: $3,000 • Average grant amount varies by program • Over 63% of 2024 grants were $5,000 or less **Application Process:** • Application window: April 1 – May 31 annually • Grant awards announced in July • Applicants must submit online through the foundation's portal • Required documentation includes: balance sheet, income statement, IRS 501(c)(3) or 170(c) verification letter, and (if previously funded) a lette…
Where does James B & Melita a Mcdonough make grants?
The foundation provides grants exclusively to 501(c)(3) or 170(c) organizations located in seven Iowa counties: • Dubuque • Delaware • Clayton • Jones • Jackson • Fayette • Buchanan
What size grants does James B & Melita a Mcdonough award?
In 2024, James B & Melita a Mcdonough awarded 88 grants totaling $446K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James B & Melita a Mcdonough required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James B & Melita a Mcdonough reported a distributable amount of $416K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James B & Melita a Mcdonough's EIN?
James B & Melita a Mcdonough's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1296843. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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